BEN LILLY
Closed due to the Hummingbird Fire emergency closure order issued April 25, 2026. The closure has no specified end date and will remain in effect until rescinded. Stage 1 fire restrictions are also in effect forest-wide through September 30, 2026.
Cannabis Possession Prohibited
Order 03-00-00-21-002 prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting a cannabis plant, any part of a cannabis plant, or any substance derived from a cannabis plant within the Southwestern Region National Forests in the State of New Mexico and the National Grasslands in the states of Texas and…
Black Range Ranger District network and phones down June 24, 2026
Computer network and phones are out of service at the Black Range Ranger District since about 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 23. The office is open for visitors, but without access to the network and point-of-sale system, we are unable to make any sales until the outage is resolved.
Bear Fire Area/Road Closure
An area closure goes into effect at 6:00 a.m. Saturday, June 13 for all National Forest System lands east of Catron County Road A095 (Mangas Road), as well as all roads and trails within the area closure (see map).
About
Ben Lilly Campground sits at 8,012 feet elevation in the rugged backcountry of the Gila National Forest, making it an ideal escape from summer heat. The campground is named after Ben Lilly, a legendary hunter and outdoorsman who spent years in these mountains hunting mountain lions and bears in the early 1900s. The site is located along Willow Creek, about 2 miles upstream from Willow Creek Campground. This primitive campground offers vault toilets and picnic tables but has no potable water or trash service. Campers must bring all drinking water and pack out all garbage. The nearest potable water is at Snow Lake Campground, and Reserve is the closest town with full amenities. All sites are first-come first-served with no fees and a 14-day stay limit. Access is via NM Highway 435 south from Reserve to Forest Road 141 for about 34 miles, then south on Forest Road 28 to Willow Creek, and finally 2 miles on Forest Road 507. While generally open year-round, road access may become difficult or impossible during heavy snow or spring thaw. Forest Road 141 is paved but has many potholes.
Directions
From Reserve, follow NM Highway 435 south to Forest Road 141 for about 34 miles. Turn south onto Forest Road 28 and follow it to its end at Willow Creek. Continue on Forest Road 507 past Willow Creek Campground approximately 2 miles upstream along Willow Creek to Ben Lilly Campground.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (575) 533-6232 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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